FORMER X-Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos has been found guilty of assaulting a blogger at the V Festival in Chelmsford.

The singer hit blogger Savvas Morgan during an altercation at the festival at Hylands Park last August.

Contostavlos, 26, was ordered to pay a total of £3,020 following the verdict, which consisted of a £2,700 contribution towards the cost of the prosecution, a £200 fine, £100 compensation to Mr Morgan and a £20 victim surcharge.

She appeared to mutter "this is bulls***" as she walked out of the courtroom.

Contostavlos, who wore a blue suit, white shirt and nude stilettos, shook her head and smiled in disbelief as the guilty verdict was read out. She said she will appeal the decision.

Reading a statement outside Stratford Magistrates' Court in east London, Contostavlos said: "There are a number of high-profile witnesses who were there and know what happened. I urge them to come forward and tell the truth at the appeal.

"I am determined to clear my name as I have already done once this week. I repeat - I did not assault Vas J Morgan. I am innocent.”

Contostavlos was accused of assault alongside her assistant Gareth Varey, 28. He was accused of threatening behaviour but was cleared of the charge.

The verdict was returned on the trials fifth day after twice being adjourned in previous weeks at Chelmsford Magistrates Court.

District Judge Angus Hamilton told the court on Friday: "I am quite sure to the requisite standard of proof, based on my analysis of the evidence that I have heard, that Ms Contostavlos did strike Mr Morgan in the face during an argument and that that blow caused minor bruising and swelling."

Earlier last week, a trial against Contostavlos was halted at Southwark Crown Court after the judge said there were "strong grounds to believe" that undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood - known as the "fake sheikh" - had "lied" at an earlier hearing.

Contostavlos had vehemently denied brokering a drugs deal, which had been reported in The Sun on Sunday last year.

n-unknown wrote:
For a second there I thought the Echo had made an error and posted a picture of Michael Jackson instead.

Message to women: Don't have botox.

I thought it was Gandy./..

[quote][p][bold]n-unknown[/bold] wrote:
For a second there I thought the Echo had made an error and posted a picture of Michael Jackson instead.
Message to women: Don't have botox.[/p][/quote]I thought it was Gandy./..John Right

It always amuses me that the victim ends up with only a paltry compensation sum. OK, it is great that the perpetrator of a crime is fined and told to pay costs but, surely, the victim should get, at least, the same amount as any fine.
As the system stands, and many would argue that this is the case, it would seem to the untrained eye that the courts are money making and profiteering on the back of the misfortune of the victims and that the victims anguish is just be be brushed aside as minor significance.

It always amuses me that the victim ends up with only a paltry compensation sum. OK, it is great that the perpetrator of a crime is fined and told to pay costs but, surely, the victim should get, at least, the same amount as any fine.
As the system stands, and many would argue that this is the case, it would seem to the untrained eye that the courts are money making and profiteering on the back of the misfortune of the victims and that the victims anguish is just be be brushed aside as minor significance.emcee